Walker, Lamb deliver UConn to Elite 8

Neill Ostrout, News-Times

Neill Ostrout, Staff Writer

Published 11:30 pm, Thursday, March 24, 2011

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) grabs a rebound next to San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard during the second half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) grabs a rebound next to San Diego...

San Diego State's bench reacts during the second half of a West regional semifinal against Connecticut in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

San Diego State's bench reacts during the second half of a West...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) drives past San Diego State's James Rahon (11) during the second half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher cheers his team during the first half of a West regional semifinal against Connecticut in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher cheers his team during the first...

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher talks with Bill White (32) and Malcolm Thomas (4) during the first half against Connecticut in a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher talks with Bill White (32) and...

San Diego State's James Rahon (11) is guarded closely by Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

San Diego State's James Rahon (11) is guarded closely by...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against San Diego State during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Kemba Walker celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer...

San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard (15)dunks against Connecticut during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard (15)dunks against Connecticut...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker scores in front of San Diego State's Billy White (32) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Kemba Walker scores in front of San Diego State's...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) tries to shoot between San Diego State's Billy White (32) and Chase Tapley (22) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) tries to shoot between San Diego...

San Diego State's Brian Carlwell celebrates during the first half of a West regional semifinal against Connecticut in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

San Diego State's Brian Carlwell celebrates during the first half...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) grabs a loose ball under San Diego State's Malcolm Thomas (4) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) grabs a loose ball under San Diego...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) shoots over San Diego State's Chase Tapley (22) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun reacts during the first half of a West regional semifinal against San Diego State in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun reacts during the first half of a...

San Diego State's D.J. Gay (23) tries to get a shot off over Connecticut's Donnell Beverly (2) during the second half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. Connecticut defeated San Diego State 74-67. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

San Diego State's D.J. Gay (23) tries to get a shot off over...

Players sit on the San Diego State bench late in the second half against Connecticut in a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. Connecticut defeated San Diego State 74-67. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Players sit on the San Diego State bench late in the second half...

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) reacts after Connecticut's 74-67 win over San Diego State in a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) reacts after Connecticut's 74-67...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker celebrates his team's 74-67 victory over San Diego State in a West regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun smiles during the second half of Connecticut's 74-67 win over San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball tournament West regional semifinal, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun smiles during the second half of...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker reacts after a 3-pointer against San Diego State during the second half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. Connecticut defeated San Diego State 74-67. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Kemba Walker reacts after a 3-pointer against San...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) scores against San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard (15) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) scores against San Diego State's...

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut Huskies reacts after hitting a three pointer late in the game as Chase Tapley #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs looks on during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kemba Walker;Chase Tapley
Photo: Harry How, Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker celebrates his team's 74-67 victory over San Diego State in a West regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) grabs a rebound next to San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard during the second half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) grabs a rebound next to San Diego...

Connecticut's Kemba Walker (15) shoots over San Diego State's Chase Tapley (22) during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut Huskies reacts after hitting a three pointer late in the game as Chase Tapley #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs looks on during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kemba Walker;Chase Tapley
Photo: Harry How, Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut...

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) grabs a rebound next to San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard during the second half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photo: AP

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) grabs a rebound next to San Diego...

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Charles Okwandu #35 and Alex Oriakhi #34 of the Connecticut Huskies look on against the San Diego State Aztecs during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charles Okwandu;Alex Oriakhi
Photo: Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Charles Okwandu #35 and Alex Oriakhi #34...

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Jamal Coombs-McDaniel #4 and Alex Oriakhi #34 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrate after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jamal Coombs-McDaniel;Alex Oriakhi
Photo: Harry How, Getty Images

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Kemba Walker provided most of the body blows and Jeremy Lamb followed up with a few knockout punches.

Most of the haymakers between UConn and San Diego State in their Sweet 16 NCAA tournament clash Thursday night were only metaphorical, of course, though some of the contact might have been misconstrued as fisticuffs.

In the end, it was the Huskies who were left standing. Walker and Lamb combined for 60 points as second-seeded UConn beat No. 3 San Diego State 74-67 at the Honda Center.

Walker's 36 points tied the UConn record for most points in an NCAA game and marked his 11th game of the season with at least 30. Lamb, who tied his career high with 24 points, said he isn't surprised anymore when Walker explodes as he did Thursday.

"Early in the season, it surprised me," said Lamb, who provided the game-clinching 3-pointer and blocked a shot late in the game. "I'm still amazed by stuff he does but I'm not surprised. Every game, he makes big shots, amazing shots."

Both men helped move UConn (29-9) into Saturday's West Regional final, where it will face the winner of Thursday's late game, Duke or Arizona.

It's the 10th appearance in the regional finals for the Huskies, the ninth under Jim Calhoun.

"This run has been sensational in many, many ways," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said of the Huskies' eight straight wins. "I haven't been able to yet put it in perspective."

Much of that is because Walker, despite missing his first four shots in the game, was largely unstoppable. The junior said he felt the Aztecs (34-3) were trying to be especially physical with him.

"Definitely. I felt they were trying to frustrate me, but I didn't fall into it," Walker said. "I just played basketball and I was able to make a couple shots."

Ahead by nine points at the half, the Huskies saw their lead quickly evaporate. A 3-pointer by D.J. Gay with 14:15 to play pulled San Diego State within one. Gay then pulled the Aztecs ahead a minute later with a steal of Walker and a pair of free throws at the other end to make it 43-42.

Gay led four San Diego State players in double figures with 16 points.

Walker answered Gay's shots right back with a jumper of his own, setting up a wild fight to the finish.

With State ahead by four, an odd sequence ensued in which State's Jamaal Franklin was called for a technical foul after bumping Walker while the teams were exiting the court for a timeout. The technical seemed to fire up the suddenly stagnant Huskies.

UConn scored 16 of the next 19 points, 14 by the incomparable Walker, to pull ahead 65-56. After hitting the 3-pointer that gave his Huskies that nine-point lead with 4:51 to go, Walker simply shook his head.

San Diego forward Billy White was among three for four Aztecs who tried to guard Walker.

"He's just an amazing player. Our goal was to try to contain him. He's almost impossible to stop," White said.

That late UConn lead wasn't entirely safe and an 8-0 run by the Aztecs had them within one at the two-minute mark. Lamb then gave the Huskies separation again with a 3-pointer that made it 68-64, thanks to an offensive rebound by Alex Oriakhi with 1:43 to play.

A lanky freshman from Georgia, Lamb then finished off the Aztecs, leaping high to intercept a pass by Gay and dunking the ball at the other end. With just 23 seconds to play, the Huskies led 70-64.

Even though Kawhi Leonard made things interesting after a 3-pointer with 16.8 seconds to go that cut the lead to three, Walker's two free throws and another breakaway by Lamb provided a painful end to the upstart Aztecs' season.

The Huskies, as they occasionally do, struggled out of the gates and made only three of their first 12 shots. But down by five, UConn came alive, scoring 10 straight points and closing out the half on a 19-5 run.

A jumper that just beat the shot clock by UConn's Shabazz Napier put the "underdogs" up 36-27 at the half. The Aztecs, who went scoreless for the half's final 3:19, would have been in an even deeper hole if Walker's half-court heave at the buzzer had gone in. But the shot just missed banking in.